Heated drum compactor machine and method
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorDean Potts
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A compactor machine includes a frame and at least one compactor drum mounted to the frame. The at least one compactor drum has an outer surface configured for compacting asphalt. A heating system is configured to heat the outer surface and includes a control device configured to control an output of the at least one heating element to the outer surface. A related method for providing a heated drum for a compactor includes mounting at least one heating element and a control device for the at least one heating element to a compactor machine, and coupling the control device with the at least one heating element to enable controlling an output thereof to an outer surface of the compactor drum.
Claims20
A compactor machine comprising:
- a frame;
- a front compacting element and a back compacting element mounted to said frame, at least one of said compacting elements comprising a compactor drum having an outer surface configured for compacting asphalt;
- a machine propulsion device configured to power at least one of the front compacting element and the back compacting element:
- and
- a heating and preheating system which is separate from the machine propulsion device and configured to heat said outer surface when said compactor drum is rotating and further configured to preheat said outer surface when said compactor drum is not rotating;
- said heating and preheating system having at least one heating element and a control device configured to control an output of said at least one heating element to said outer surface.
A method of providing for heating and preheating of a compactor drum for a compactor machine comprising the steps of:
- mounting a heating and preheating system including at least one heating element having a plurality of heat output states to a compactor machine having a machine propulsion device separate from the at least one heating element, the compactor machine further including a front compacting element and a back compacting element, at least one of the compacting elements comprising a compactor drum;
- coupling a control device with the at least one heating element to enable controlling an output of the at least one heating element to an outer surface of the compactor drum;
- coupling a temperature sensor with the control device, the temperature sensor being configured to generate outputs corresponding to a temperature of the outer surface of the compactor drum;
- and
- switching the control device between a first control device state corresponding with a first heat output state of the at least one heating element and a second control device state corresponding to a second, different heat output state of the at least one heating element, responsive to inputs from the temperature sensor.
A compactor machine comprising:
- a frame;
- at least one compactor drum mounted to said frame, said at least one compactor drum having an outer surface configured for compacting asphalt;
- a machine propulsion device configured to power said at least one compactor drum;
- a heating and preheating system which is separate from the machine propulsion device and configured to heat said outer surface when said compactor drum is rotating and further configured to preheat said outer surface when said compactor drum is not rotating;
- said heating and preheating system having at least one heating element and a control device configured to control an output of said at least one heating element to said outer surface;
- and
- an electrical power source mounted on said compactor machine, said at least one heating element comprising at least one electrically powered heating element coupled with said electrical power source.
A method of preparing a compactor machine for compacting asphalt comprising the steps of:
- mounting a heating and preheating system including at least one heating element having a plurality of heat output states to a compactor machine having a machine propulsion device which is separate from the at least one heating element, the compactor machine further including a front compacting element and a back compacting element, at least one of the compacting elements comprising a compactor drum;
- coupling a control device with the at least one heating element, the control device including a plurality of control device states corresponding to the plurality of heat output states;
- and
- preheating the outer surface of the compactor drum via the at least one heating element when the compactor drum is not rotating, including controlling a heat output of the at least one heating element via the control device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.